1850] 53 



Mil/ 1th. 

 Dr. Morton, President, in the Chair. 



An extract of a letter from J. Sharpe Macleay, Esq., dated Elizabeth 

 Bay, near Sydney, 12th October, 1819, addressed to Dr. Morton, 

 stating that he had transmitted to the latter " the cast of a fossil fish, 

 illustrating the highest animal form yet discovered in the vast coal 

 measures of the Eastern coast of New Holland. The head was want- 

 ing, but from analogy it most nearly resembles the modern Lepidosteus. 

 The specimen was found at New Castle, a port about sixty miles north 

 of Sydney, and noted for its coal mines. 



Two other specimens of Sauroids of a distinct genus have been found 

 at Pararaalta, an inland town about fourteen miles from Sydney. 



These are all the remains of Vertebrata yet found in strata of an 

 earlier date than the Tertiary period." 



Mr. Macleay also proposed to exchange Silurian or carbonaceous 

 fossils, or plants and seeds of the colony, for those of this country, and 

 enclosed a list of the latter which would be desirable. The list was 

 referred to the Botanical Committee with power to act. 



Dr. Morton also presented a communication addressed to him by 

 P. A. Browne, Esq., dated Philadelphia, April 2t5, 1850, stating that 

 he had been recently engaged in making an examination of the hair 

 and portions of the scalp of some human heads, from Pachamahac and 

 from Arica and Pisco, in Peru, and on comparing them with those of 

 our modern Indians, he was prepared to demonstrate that they all be- 

 long to the same species, that viz. with cylindrical straight lank hair, 

 which issues out of the epidermis at an acute angle, but the coloring 

 matter is in the cortex, or in the cortex and intermediate fibres. 



May 21st. 

 Dr. Bridges in the Chair. 



A letter was read from Joel Y. Schelly, Esq., dated Hereford, Berks- 

 county, Pennsylvania, April 7, 1850, addressed to Dr. Leidy, announc- 

 ing that he had transmitted to the Academy all the fossil remains in 

 his possession, found in Upper Milford, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, 

 in 1848. Some other specimens in the hands of other individuals he 

 would also endeavor to obtain for the Society. 



On motion of Dr. Leidy the thanks of the Academy wer^ presented 

 to Mr. Schelly for the collection ; which Dr. Leidy slated had been 

 received, and was now in the possession of the Society. 



PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI, OF PHILADELPHIA. VOL. V. NO. III. 8 



